The Pier Art Centre

The wind blew, the rains came and mist cloaked the land down to the very sea.
Welcome to Midsummer in Scotland.

Still it could be worse, we could be back home in the rain, watching the primulas floating out of their patio tubs.
Instead we are having a picnic lunch in the car on the front in Finstown watching the gulls gliding above the picnic tables, hopeful of some crumbs from the nearby mobile snack bar, and looking out at a restless grey sea with the waves white topped beyond the harbour.
The Orkney flag flying at our backs is being blown so hard the whole fag pole is shaking.

This is the first morning I felt disinclined to venture forth on an early morning walk.
Instead, later on, we drove to Kirkwall for some shopping and the obligatory visit to a cafe for tea and cake.

I know it's ridiculous, but I still find it strange to come all this way north and cross seas, and find a national store which has on offer exactly the same produce as one would buy round the corner at home.
It's the small independent wholesalers that carry food reflecting the island setting.

A visit to the Pier Art centre after we returned to Stromness provided a welcome end to the day.